More fun animals that we're not bringing home

Last weeks challenge of spending only half of our grocery budget went well. A few of us went grocery shopping Monday evening and I'm happy to report that we spent only $36 of the $40 allowed! That's after I argued them down by $3 dollars on mispriced lettuce, which would have put us at $39. So that's $44 for Heart and Hand's food pantry!

Last weekend for learning, we went with Jim from church to a former coworker's farm where she raises 48 alpacas. We were impressed at her knowledge of the history of the animals and their use in South American countries.

And they were also just too darn cute!

They really liked Ian, maybe partly because he had a bath the night before and they thought he smelled delicious!

We may need to stop visiting adorable animals because every time, those in the household 19 years old and younger always want to bring one home! But at 5,000 - 7,000 dollars each, they really couldn't afford to bring home an alpaca on their stipends anyway!

Here he's feeding them, so that's why he's surrounded.

This weeks challenge

Beginning this past Saturday, our challenge for the week is to to not use any electric kitchen appliances. We are excluding the refrigerator and freezer, but includes everything thing else in the kitchen only: microwave, oven (but not the stove-top since that is gas and we could use it if our power is out), mixer, dishwasher, toaster and coffeemaker. So far so good, and since it's a warm week (60's and 70's!) we'll be using the grill! Yay for spring!